“It is your move,” I said.
“You have no obligation,” said Samos, “to seek the girl Talena.”
I knew that. “I am unworthy of her,” I said.
I had never forgotten her, the beautiful, olive-skinned, green-eyed Talena, so stunningly figured, such fantastic lips, the proud blood of Marlenus of Ar, Ubar of Ar, Ubar of Ubars, in her veins. She had been my first love. It had been years since we had touched.
“Priest-Kings tore me from her,” I told Samos, hard-eyed.
Samos did not look up from the board. “In the game of worlds, he said, “we are not important.” “She was taken to the northern forests, I have learned,” I said, “by the outlaw girl, Verna, to serve as bait for her capture of Marlenus of Ar, who is presumed to be concerned for her rescue.” I looked up. “Marlenus on a hunting expedition, with other animals, captured Verna, and her girls. He caged them and exhibited them as trophies. They have escaped, and they wish their vengeance.” “You would do well to stay in Port Kar,” said Samos.
“Talena is held slave in the northern forests,” I told him.
“Do you still love her?” asked Samos, looking at me, directly.
I was startled.
For years Talena, the magnificent Talena, had been in my heart’s deepest dreams, my first love, my never forgotten love. She had burned in my memory, unforgettably. I recalled her from the fields near the Swamp Forest south of Ar, in the caravan of Mintar, at the great camp of Pa-Kur'’ horde, as she had been upon Ar'’ lofty cylinder of justice, as she had been in lamp-lit Ko-ro-ba, when, with interlocking arms, we had drunk the wines of Free Companionship. How could I not love Talena, the deep, and first love, the first beautiful love of my life?” “Do you love her?” asked Samos.